He was ready to join BJP, with Fadnavis in attendance. Then Rahul Gandhi called - The Indian Express

In a dramatic turn of events on Monday night, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi dialled former Congress MLA Rahul Bondre, who has represented the Chikhli Assembly seat in Buldhana district of western Vidarbha, just before he was due to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On the call, connected by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal, Rahul Gandhi reportedly urged Rahul Bondre not to switch parties. Sapkal had asked Gandhi to speak with Bondre. The video of Rahul Gandhi urging Bondre to stay put with the party has since gone viral on social media.

On Sunday, Bondre had released a video, declaring his intention to join the BJP. A grand reception was planned, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcoming him into the saffron fold. Bondre, an old Congressman, has represented the Chikhli constituency for two terms. BJP MLA Shweta Mahale currently represents the seat.

But with his strong grassroots connections in Chikhli, Congress decided to urge Bondre to stay, as his exit could prove to be a major blow to the party. Party leaders immediately contacted Rahul Gandhi and urged him to persuade Bondre to not switch sides.

On the phone call, Rahul Gandhi assured Bondre that the party not only stands with him, but will extend every possible help to counter the BJP’s intimidating tactics.

When Bondre told him about his recent losses, Gandhi told him, “To win, you must lose sometimes.”

“Do not be afraid, do not yield to pressure, it would be a mistake. We are with you, I know everything…You are a Congress loyalist. Do not make a mistake—they are exerting mental pressure on you. They want you to run away to reduce their competition and boost their own influence. Therefore, do not get involved in joining the BJP,” Rahul told him.

He said, “You are right, Bhaiyya… I was holding on because of you. You took notice of a worker like me and called. Your phone call has given me the courage to fight again. Now, even if I lose everything, I will stand with you in this battle.”

Gandhi responded, “Absolutely, love you… Remember one thing: you cannot win without facing defeat.”

Later that day, Bondre posted on his social media handle that he would not be joining the BJP.

“Ready to sacrifice everything in this fight standing with Rahul Gandhi.”

She added, “In an ever-changing political landscape, staying true to one’s ideology and party is the ultimate mark of loyalty. The stance taken by him reflects his deep trust and dedication to the values of Congress. Ideology matters far more than position, power, or pressure. Rahulji Bondre has truly demonstrated this through his actions.”

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More